Girl, 11, sent flying by exploding oven

An Australian girl had to be rushed to hospital after the oven in her family's new $1million "dream" home exploded. Experts said it was a miracle that Emma Rothwell, 11, escaped the ordeal with only minor injuries. "It was a bit scary, I can't really remember it,'' she said.

The blast happened at the family's brand new house, worth $987,000, on Damabila Drive, Lyons. Emma was cooking a curry when the stove blew out of its fittings, hitting her in her right leg and throwing her on to the ground.



Her father Philip Rothwell and nine-year-old brother Adam were only metres away from the carnage in the living room when the blast happened last Thursday. "It was an almighty explosion, absolutely tremendous," Mr Rothwell said. "My daughter was blown onto the floor. She was under shock and didn't respond. I couldn't stop her from screaming for about 15 minutes."

Emma was rushed to Royal Darwin Hospital and released on crutches a day later. The explosion scattered food and glass and debris across the kitchen floor. The electric oven was blown out of its fittings in the kitchen cooking bench and the gas cooking top was lifted. Mr Rothwell said the stove was brand new and only used three times.